Graham: Can't Defund Planned Parenthood, 'Obama Won't Sign It'

Republican lawmakers can forget about defunding Planned Parenthood for now — because it will never happen with a Democratic president in the White House, Sen. Lindsey Graham tells Newsmax TV.

"We may get a majority but we'll never get a bill signed into law that defunds Planned Parenthood because Obama won't sign it," Graham, a South Carolina Republican and GOP presidential candidate, said Thursday on "The Steve Malzberg Show."

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"So if you want to defund Planned Parenthood, replace Obama, and do a lot of things that we would like, like build the [Keystone] pipeline, you'd better get a new president."

Planned Parenthood has been under fire for a series of undercover videos released by the conservative Center for Medical Progress that show officials discussing the sale of aborted fetal organs for research.

The footage spurred Republican lawmakers to demand an investigation of Planned Parenthood, which they say should not receive federal funds until it is concluded. According to Planned Parenthood's annual report, it has received $4.3 billion in government funding over the last 10 years.

But Graham told Steve Malzberg:

"I don't want to tell people on your show that we have the votes to defund Planned Parenthood because you'd have to override the presidential veto. Do you think Obama would veto a bill that would defund Planned Parenthood?"

Still, some congressional Republicans are vowing to defund the group, even if it forces a government shutdown, according to Politico.

In the Senate, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is leading the charge, saying next week's Senate roll call to defund the group is a "legislative show vote" and he plans to do everything possible to force the issue, not barring a government shutdown.

Meanwhile, the Center for Medical Progress, which so far has released three undercover videos of Planned Parenthood staff discussing the harvesting or sale of fetal tissue, says there are nine more videos coming out, according to The Daily Caller.

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